Music Jar – week 32

Each week, I listen to an artist, someone I might have heard of but never took the opportunity to “get into”. This week was the turn of Detroit’s own, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, better known as Lizzo.

What I Knew Before
Lizzo is probably the artist on my list that I felt I was the closest to missing out on. I’d heard a number of her songs and knew that she was a woman with a powerful vocal range and a voice for topics. I had glimpsed her in the brilliant, Hustlers. I was also familiar with the line, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch”. I’m sure we will all agree, highly relatable content there.

What I Know Now
Lizzo’s 2019 album, Cuz I Love You, is one of the most important albums to be delivered into the world in the last decade. Her songs have a dynamic range that is unlike anything else happening in modern music. She is an absolute force and I am thankful I’ve taken the time to educate myself on her.
Lizzo released two more-hiphop focused albums earlier in her career, which were met with some critical acclaim but it was the arrival of the single Juice, and then her third album that brought her mainstream success.
She is outspoken on body issues particularly for women in the public eye as well as being a supporter of the LGBTQ+ movement.
She has played flute since she was a child. Her flute is named Sasha Flute.
I could go on. She’s really something special.

Favourite songs:
It goes without saying that the songs of Lizzo’s that I was familiar with are the ones you would expect. They’ve gone viral through TikTok and they’re screamed in your face if you dare step into any club playing them. Feel free to correct me but I really like Good As Hell, Tempo, Juice and Truth Hurts. Cuz I Love You is a very strong opening track. When I first listened to the album, I felt my knees buckle at the absolute splendor of that track; it’s at once a 50’s bop and the best Bond theme you’ve never heard.

Favourite album: It will come as no surprise that I am 100% that bitch. It’s got to be Cuz I Love You.

Spotify my favourite songs from this project.